What is sublime?

The sublime is when something makes you feel both tiny and powerful at the same time.

Imagine you're looking up at a really big mountain, it's so tall that it seems like it could touch the sky. That’s the sublime! It feels like you’re just a little person next to something huge and strong, but deep down, you know you can face it too.

Think of it like looking at the biggest cookie you've ever seen, maybe it's as big as your whole room! You might feel small, like you could never eat that much. But then you remember: you could try! That mix of feeling tiny and feeling brave is what makes something sublime.

The Big Sky

Or picture yourself outside on a clear day, looking at the sky, it’s so wide and deep, like there's no end to it. It feels endless, and you might feel small compared to that huge space. But you know you're part of that big world too, you’re in it! That's also sublime.

The sublime is about feeling both tiny and strong, like when something big reminds you how big the world can be, but also how much you can face.

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Examples

  1. A mountain that feels overwhelming and beautiful at the same time
  2. A loud thunderclap during a storm
  3. Seeing the ocean from a high cliff

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Categories: Space · aesthetics· philosophy· art